Aerial cable guard

ABSTRACT

A plastic chevron-shaped guard is affixed to the supporting messenger strand of an aerial cable. The chevron protects the cable from damage due to mastication by squirrels and the like and yet permits inspection and access to it.

United States Patent [191 Canavan et al.

111 3,772,451 Nov. 13, 1973 AERIAL CABLE GUARD Inventors: John AndrewCanavan, Agincourt; William Robert Stewart, West Hill, both of Ontario,Canada Bell Canada, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed: Jan. 26, 1973 Appl.No.: 326,892

Assignee:

US. Cl 174/41, 174/5 R, 174/136 Int. Cl. ll02g 7/00, H02g 7/10 Field ofSearch 174/5 R, 40 R, 41,

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 8/1887 VanDepoele 174/40 R X4/1890 Penney 191/35 4/1911 VanNostran 174/41 1,183,709 5/1916 Zanella191/35 1,967,134 7/1934 Short 174/41 2,451,004 10/1948 VanAntwerp 174/412,812,380 11/1957 Lehrke 174/41 1 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS715,523 9/1931 France 174/5 R 212,514 7/1909 Germany 174/139 221,1509/1924 Great Britain 174/5 R 181,314 11/1962 Sweden 174/40 R 124,8473/1928 Switzerland... 174/5 R Primary ExaminerLaramie E. AskinAttorneyJohn E. Mowle [57] ABSTRACT A plastic chevron-shaped guard isaffixed to the supporting messenger strand of an aerial cable. Thechevron protects the cable from damage due to mastication by squirrelsand the like and yet permits inspec tion and access to it.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures AERIAL CABLE GUARD This invention relates toan aerial cable guard and more particularly to one which may be used toprotect a multi-pair communications cable from damage caused bysquirrels and the like and yet provides ready inspection and access tothe cable itself.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In modern telephone communications,extensive use is made of multi-pair cables having an exterior lead orplastic sheath. This sheath is very susceptible to damage caused bysquirrels which bite into the exterior sheath. In some instances, theconductors themselves are damaged while in others, the opening of theexterior sheath allows the entrance of moisture which deteriorates theelectrical parameters of the cable.

In the past, cable guards have been used which completely encircled thecable and utilized various locking methods. While preventing damagecaused by squirrels, these guards severely restricted access to thecommunications cable. This resulted in great difficulty in locatingleaks and various other faults in the cable. In addition, thiscombination was not very suitable for splicing drops such as requiredfor telephone or cabletelevision installations. Such a cable guard wasusually suited for lashed cable only, i.e., where the supportingmessenger strand was helically bound to the communications cable by alashing wire, as opposed to the type where the cable is hung from thestrand by a series of rings. In addition, the encircling guard was oftendifficult' to installand hard to remove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages of existing cable guards havebeen overcome by providing a plastic chevron-shaped guard which isplaced over the cable combination and affixed thereto.

Thus, in accordancewith the present invention there is provided acombination of a multi-conductor electrical communications cable and asupporting messenger strand which runs along the length of thecommunications'cable. In addition, an upwardly directed plastic chevronis longitudinally disposed over the cable with its interior apex incontact with at least portions of the supporting cable. Means are alsoprovided for affixing the chevron to the supporting cable so that thecommunications cable is exposed on the underside of the chevr'on yetprotected from damage by squirrels and the like. Should the squirrelsbite into the chevron guard, they can do so without causing any damageto the communications cable itself. Thus, this arrangement still enablesthem to live in the immediate area. Such a structure is feasible becauseof the realization that the diameter of the cable is at least severaltimes that of the messenger strand. Since the chevron guard is affixedonly to the strand rather than the overall aerial cable assembly, it isrestrained from rotating around the assembly in strong winds. Thisnegates the possibility of the chevron collecting rain, snow or ice andconsequently placing a severe structural stress on the cable assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An example embodiment of the inventionwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a section of an aerial cable systememploying a cable guard in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the aerial cable taken'along theline IIII of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT tic chevron 12. A conventionalplastic clip 15 is inserted through the holes 13 and 14 between thecable 10 and the strand 11 and thence back around the exterior apex 16of the chevron 12. The ends of the clip 15 are coupled together in anyone of a number of well known ways.

As shown in the drawings, the bottom of the chevron 12 is open therebypermitting inspection and access to the 'multi-paired cable 10 withoutremoval of the chevron 12. Because the diameter of the cable 10 isseveral times that of the strand 11, the chevron 12 is effectivelyprevented from rotating around and under the cable 10 and thence actingas an eavestrough which could result in severe structural stress on thecable assembly caused by rain,-snow and ice loading. Because the chevron12 is made of plastic, it will readily spread thereby permitting the useof cable with a diameter approaching that of the length of the legs ofthe chevron 12.

The plastic guard 12 may also be used on aerial cable where the cable 10is suspended by a plurality of rings from the strand 11 at periodicintervals. In installations of this nature, the cable 10 may protrudebelow the bottom of the chevron 12 but still retains the guardfeaturesWith both installations, squirrels and other such animals mayscamper along the top of the chevron 12.

If they do chew into the chevron 12, they will eventually strike themessenger strand 11 with no resultant damage to the communications cable10.

In a typical installation, the guard 12 is made of rigidpolyvinylchloride having a wall thickness of 0.06 inches. The guard 12is supplied in lengths of up to 10 feet and can be readily cut in thefield for installation.

What is claimed is:

1. In an aerial cable system, the combination com prising:

a multi-conductor electrical communications cable having an exteriorsheath; and

a supporting messenger strand for at least periodically supporting saidcommunications cable along its length between spans; the improvementcomprising: an upwardly directed plastic chevron, longitudinallydisposed over said cable and said strand, having its interior apex incontact with at least portions of said messenger strand; and

means affixing said chevron to said messenger strand;

whereby stantially adjacent said apex; and

,in which each of the means affixing the chevron comprises an annularclamp which passes through said pair of holes, under said supportingcable and over the exterior apex of the chevron.

1. In an aerial cable system, the combination comprising: amulti-conductor electrical communications cable having an exteriorsheath; and a supporting messenger strand for at least periodicallysupporting said communications cable along its length between spans; theimprovement comprising: an upwardly directed plastic chevron,longitudinally disposed over said cable and said strand, having itsinterior apex in contact with at least portions of said messengerstrand; and means affixing said chevron to said messenger strand;whereby said communications cable is exposed on the underside of thechevron yet protected from damage by squirrels and the like which runtherealong.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which saidchevron has pairs of periodically spaced holes along its length, one oneach leg of the chevron substantially adjacent said apex; and in whicheach of the means affixing the chevron comprises an annular clamp whichpasses through said pair of holes, under said supporting cable and overthe exterior apex of the chevron.